Capture Your Adventures with Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS – The Ultimate Adventure Camera

Capture stunning photos and videos of your next adventure with the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS camera. With its rugged construction and advanced features, this camera is perfect for capturing stunning images and video footage while trekking, exploring, and pushing your limits.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS article cover photo

Key Features

Jan 29 2014

Announced

16 megapixels

Resolution

BrandOlympus
Sensor Type1/2.3-inch
SensorBSI-CMOS
Weight218g
MSRP$249USD

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Overview of the Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS

Adventure enthusiasts, this one's for you! The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS camera is the perfect travel buddy for capturing your daring expeditions. Built to endure the toughest conditions, this camera can handle everything from snowstorms to rugged terrains. Equipped with a 16-megapixel image sensor, 5x optical zoom, Wi-Fi connectivity, Full HD Video, and a range of advanced features, this camera is a must-have gadget for the thrill-seekers and explorers out there. Whether you're hiking, skiing, surfing, or skydiving, you can capture every moment in stunning detail with the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS. Get ready to explore the world and capture your adventures with this high-performing, durable camera.

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

1. Waterproof
great for underwater photography 2. Shockproof
can withstand accidental drops 3. Compact size
easy to carry around 4. Good image quality
captures clear and sharp photos 5. Fast autofocus
captures fast-moving objects without blur 6. Wide-angle lens
captures more of the scene 7. Built-in WiFi
allows for easy sharing and uploading of photos

Cons

1. Low-light performance
struggles in dimly lit environments 2. Limited zoom range
only 5x optical zoom 3. Small sensor size
may not perform as well in low light 4. No manual controls
limited control over settings 5. Short battery life
may not last long for extended use 6. No viewfinder
relies solely on LCD screen for composition 7. No 4K video recording
limited to 1080p video resolution.

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS

Weather sealed
Dimensions110 x 64 x 28mm
Weight218g
Thickness28mm
Weight
Min
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Max
Thickness
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Weather Sealing

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS camera is equipped with environmental seals that make it resistant to weather, preventing water and dust from entering the camera. If you enjoy outdoor photography and need a camera that can handle extreme conditions, the Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS is an excellent choice.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderNone
Screen TypeTilting
Screen Resolution460k dots
Body typeCompact

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a tilting 3.00" screen, with a display resolution of 460k dots. This makes the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. Unfortunately, the camera does not have a touch screen, which may make it less user-friendly.

Viewfinder

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS does not include a viewfinder. The lack of a viewfinder on the Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS camera may make it less suitable for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS has a 16MP sized BSI-CMOS sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 16 pixels. Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS has a native ISO range of 125 - 6400 which can be boosted to null - null.

Key Features

Jan 29 2014

Announced

125 - 6400

ISO Range

Sensor1/2.3-inch
Extended ISOnull - null
Max resolution4616 x 3464 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

not tested

Color Depth

not tested

Dynamic Range

not tested

Low Light ISO

not tested

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain high amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is excellent, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS is excellent

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1x

Full frame equivalent

24mm

This camera: 1/2.3-inch

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageSD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Battery Life330 shots
Battery ModelLI-50B
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS supports SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS uses the LI-50B model of battery pack. This is rated for 330 shots shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. However it lacks an external flash shoe, which limits you to using the built-in flash.

Shutter

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/2000s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS includes contrast detection autofocus (AF), with null number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

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FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS?

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS features a BSI-CMOS sensor

Is the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS weather sealed?

Yes the Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS does have weather sealing.

When was the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS announced?

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS was announced on Jan 29 2014

Does the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS have in-body image stabilization?

Yes the Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS does have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS?

The Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS has a native ISO range of 125-6400, which can be expanded to ISO null-null for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

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